Australia PM cracks down on Japanese whaling

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has set a November deadline for Japan to stop commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean, or else face legal action.

Japanese whalers have culled whales in Antarctic waters south of Australia for years. Prime Minister Rudd said on Friday that he would use diplomatic means to persuade Japan to end its hunt.

Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister, said, "If that fails, and I'm saying this very bluntly and very clearly on your program today, if that fails then we will initiate that court action before the commencement of the whaling season in November 2010."

A whale is slowly dragged on board a Japanese ship after being harpooned in Antarctic waters in this 2008 handout photo from the Australian Customs Service. (AFP/Australian Customs Service/File)